Mandaue ups security in schools

Public school teachers in Mandaue City’s 49 public schools were told anew to always remind their students not to entertain strangers and go home immediately with their parents or guardians after class.

The directive by education officials stemmed from reports of two attempted kidnappings of three third year students of the Mandaue City Science High School last March 5 and 13.

Jamaal James Calipayan, executive secretary of Mayor Jonas Cortes, said he was informed about this during a meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) yesterday.

He said Department of Education (DepEd) Supt. Virginia Zapanta sent a letter to the mayor asking for police and ronda tanod visibility at public schools.

Calipayan said the Association of Barangay Captains headed by Subangdaku barangay captain Ernie Manatad agreed to assign more tanods at schools.

“We’re concerned about the security of the students, that they should be reminded and advised not to talk or entertain any strangers,” Calipayan said and recalled the kidnap-murder of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

Pique was a Grade 1 pupil who was invited by still unidentified people in their vehicle while heading home with her classmates in barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla in southern Cebu on Feb. 8, 2011.

Her remains were found wrapped in a bed sheet, stuffed inside a sack and dumped down a cliff in Guibuangan, Barili town. DepEd administrative officer Benjamin Tiongzon said the two kidnap attempts were reported to the barangay.

On March 5, a third year high school student was walking in front of Ibabao-Estancia when a motorcycle rider suddenly stopped alongside her and asked her if she wanted a ride. The student immediately ran away.

Eight days later, two students were walking to school at 6 a.m., when a van suddenly stopped and a young man invited them inside. But the students ignored them and ran away.

“These incidents shouldn’t be taken for granted and the students need to be protected,” Tiongzon said.